CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (Unaudited) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended		33 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2010	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2010	Sep. 30, 2011
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE LOSS (Unaudited) [Abstract]
REVENUES	$ 22,804	$ 0	$ 85,971	$ 0	$ 85,971
COST OF SALES	5,595	0	38,561	0	38,561
Gross Profit	17,209	0	47,410	0	47,410
OPERATING (INCOME) EXPENSES:
Exploration costs	815,243	778,752	2,126,273	1,773,358	5,733,228
General and administrative	1,087,913	484,720	3,101,387	1,757,913	10,275,648
(Gain) loss from disposition of land and equipment	0	0	(1,000)	0	(4,523)
Loss on impairment of equipment	0	0	0	2,270	55,122
Total Operating Expenses	1,903,156	1,263,472	5,226,660	3,533,541	16,059,475
Net Operating Loss	(1,885,947)	(1,263,472)	(5,179,249)	(3,533,541)	(16,012,065)
OTHER INCOME (EXPENSE):
Interest income	343	132	849	547	2,254
Interest expense	(96,168)	(40,894)	(353,559)	(164,845)	(912,159)
Sale of clay samples	0	0	0	3,750	10,943
Refund of insurance premium	0	0	0	6,370	20,156
Gain on stock award forfeiture	0	0	0	145,000	145,000
Gain (loss) on revaluation of stock awards	48,000	14,000	(50,000)	(22,000)	(222,500)
Net proceeds (expenses) from legal settlement	0	0	0	28,547	(173,325)
Amortization of deferred financing costs	(4,592)	0	(13,775)	0	(16,836)
Amortization of convertible debt discount	0	0	0	(2,194)	(365,341)
Gain on settlement of debt	0	0	0	0	333,502
Other income (expense)	1,248	2	(6,272)	(291)	(4,658)
Total Other Income (Expense)	(51,169)	(26,760)	(422,757)	(5,116)	(1,182,964)
Loss from exploration stage, before income taxes	(1,937,116)	(1,290,232)	(5,602,006)	(3,538,657)	(17,195,029)
Provision (benefit) for income taxes	0	0	0	0	0
Net Loss from Exploration Stage Before Discontinued Operations	(1,937,116)	(1,290,232)	(5,602,007)	(3,538,657)	(17,195,029)
Net income (loss) from discontinued operations	0	11,002	(5,772)	245,680	53,382
Net loss from exploration stage after discontinued operations	(1,937,116)	(1,279,230)	(5,607,778)	(3,292,977)	(17,141,647)
Net gain (loss) attributable to the non-controlling interest	(8)	3	15	(10)	(31)
Net Loss Attributable to Applied Minerals, Inc	$ (1,937,124)	$ (1,279,227)	$ (5,607,764)	$ (3,292,987)	$ (17,141,678)
Earnings Per Share Information (Basic and Diluted):
Net loss per share before discontinued operations attributable to Applied Minerals, Inc. common shareholders (in dollars per share)	$ (0.03)	$ (0.02)	$ (0.08)	$ (0.05)
Discontinued operations attributable to Applied Minerals, Inc. common shareholders (in dollars per share)	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0
Net Loss Per Share Attributable to Applied Minerals, Inc. common shareholders (in dollars per share)	$ (0.03)	$ (0.02)	$ (0.08)	$ (0.05)
Weighted Average Shares Outstanding (basic and diluted) (in shares)	75,688,625	69,236,813	73,010,225	68,042,487